Written By nana jamaika on Jumat, 17 April 2015 | 22.11

The son of the former Bradford City chairman linked to a series of fires has told Sky News his entire family were in the main stand at Valley Parade during the blaze that killed 56 people in May 1985.

A new book by survivor Martin Fletcher has linked eight previous fires to businesses or premises owned by the club's then chairman Stafford Heginbotham.

Mr Fletcher says this information was not considered by the police or public inquiry at the time, and is calling for a fresh investigation.

His book, Fifty-Six: The Story of the Bradford Fire, also claims Mr Heginbotham received millions of pounds in insurance as a result of the fires.

It also says that the club was in dire financial difficulties at the end of the 1985 season.

Video:New Bradford City Fire Theory

But Simon Heginbotham dismissed any suggestion his father was linked to the fire. He said he, his brother and his mother were all in the stand that day.

"We're disgusted - it is quite diabolical that he has chosen to do this on the 30th anniversary of the fire and 20 years after my father's death," Mr Heginbotham said.

"James, my brother, was filming in a very particular spot at the end of that stand where he had a video camera.

"Myself and my mother were sat in the middle of the stand, so why is my father gong to light a fire on a day like that with all his family sat in the stadium?

"That stadium was going to be pulled down 48 hours after the game, on the Monday morning.

"So why would you burn down a club that had been deemed uninsurable and no use for any insurance claim.

"There is no reason or gain in any shape or form for setting a football club on fire. It's absolutely ridiculous, we've never had any financial trouble with the family or the business."

Video:Author Lost Four Family Members

Stafford Heginbotham was a well-known businessman in Bradford in the 70s and 80s, running foam and toy companies.

Several fires occurred in mill buildings where his companies operated, and in three cases someone was arrested and prosecuted.

Simon Heginbotham said these incidents were already in the public domain and his father had nothing to hide.

"These were old woollen mills - there were fires every week. He's been singled out as a serial arsonist, and everyone in the town of Bradford is disgusted with this.

"He [Martin Fletcher] didn't have to dig for 15 years in a London library, he could have rung me up and I could have told him any details. Those fires have always been in the public eye.

"They became bad jokes. In the 70s and 80s, if businessmen saw a cloud of smoke in the town after 6pm they'd say 'that will be one of Stafford's'. Not meant to be horrible, but he was unlucky in that area."

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Irish student Karen Buckley.

Alexander Pacteau, 21, is accused of killing Ms Buckley, whose body was found on Wednesday on a farm outside Glasgow.

Pacteau made no plea or declaration when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He has been remanded in custody.

He is charged with murder and attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

Ms Buckley, 24, from Cork, vanished after spending the night with friends at Glasgow's Sanctuary nightclub.

She started an occupational therapy degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in February and was previously a nurse at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, Essex.

Earlier this week, her parents flew from Ireland to help with the search and told a news conference they were "desperate" for help.

Hundreds of people attended a mass at a church close to the Buckley family home in north Cork, and Irish foreign minister Charlie Flanagan said: "All of our thoughts and prayers are with Karen's parents, John and Marian, and with all of her family and friends at this tragic time."

A candle and photograph of Ms Buckley have been left at the reception to the health sciences building where she studied at the University of Limerick.

And tens of thousands of pounds have been donated to a fundraising page set up by Ms Buckley's former classmates to cover her family's expenses in Scotland.

Police earlier searched near the flat in Dorchester Avenue where the student spent several hours on Sunday before apparently leaving around 4am

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CCTV shows her leaving the club.

The student began an occupational therapy degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in February and was previously a nurse at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, Essex.

Police she had travelled widely and knew how to take care of herself.

Her parents flew from Ireland to help with the search and told a news conference they were "desperate" for help.

Ms Buckley's handbag was found on Tuesday in the city's Dawsholm Park, but on Wednesday the search shifted north of the city.

Dozens of officers began searching a remote country lane between Glasgow and Drymen, cordoning off the road to High Craigton Farm.

Police had previously asked for information about a grey car spotted in the area between 11am and 3pm on Monday.

Hundreds of people have attended a mass at a church close to the Buckley family home in north Cork, and Irish foreign minister Charlie Flanagan said: "All of our thoughts and prayers are with Karen's parents, John and Marian, and with all of her family and friends at this tragic time."

A candle and photograph of Ms Buckley have been left at the reception to the health sciences building where she studied at the University of Limerick.

A fundraising page set up by Ms Buckley's former classmates to cover her family's expenses in Scotland has raised tens of thousands of pounds.

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Video:Remains Found In Search For Student

A man is to appear in court after remains believed to be those of a missing Irish student were found on a farm.

Officers searching for 24-year-old Karen Buckley made the discovery close to Milngavie, north of Glasgow.

Formal identification of the remains has not taken place. Ms Buckley's relatives have been informed.

A 21-year-old man has been arrested and police said they were "following a definite line of enquiry". He is due in court on Friday.

Ms Buckley was last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning after a night out in Glasgow.

Ms Buckley's parents flew from Ireland to help with the search

The student, from Cork, vanished after spending the night with friends at the city's Sanctuary nightclub.

She told them at around 1am she was going to the toilet but failed to return and left her jacket behind.

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Gallery: Police Search Discover Remains In Search For Missing Student

The search for the missing student shifted to the area around High Craigton Farm, to the north of the city, on Wednesday

The road to the farm was closed off

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Fire service vehicles were later seen heading to the farm. Hours later police revealed that remains had been found

Police earlier searched near the flat in Dorchester Avenue where the student spent several hours on Sunday before apparently leaving around 4am

]]>

CCTV shows her leaving the club.

The student began an occupational therapy degree at Glasgow Caledonian University in February and was previously a nurse at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow, Essex.

Police she had travelled widely and knew how to take care of herself.

Her parents flew from Ireland to help with the search and told a news conference they were "desperate" for help.

Ms Buckley's handbag was found on Tuesday in the city's Dawsholm Park, but on Wednesday the search shifted north of the city.

Dozens of officers began searching a remote country lane between Glasgow and Drymen, cordoning off the road to High Craigton Farm.

Police had previously asked for information about a grey car spotted in the area between 11am and 3pm on Monday.

Hundreds of people have attended a mass at a church close to the Buckley family home in north Cork, and Irish foreign minister Charlie Flanagan said: "All of our thoughts and prayers are with Karen's parents, John and Marian, and with all of her family and friends at this tragic time."

A candle and photograph of Ms Buckley have been left at the reception to the health sciences building where she studied at the University of Limerick.

A fundraising page set up by Ms Buckley's former classmates to cover her family's expenses in Scotland has raised tens of thousands of pounds.

James May has told Top Gear viewers who sent threatening tweets to Sue Perkins following rumours she could replace Jeremy Clarkson he does not want them as fans.

The presenter took to Twitter himself to tell online trolls who sent the Great British Bake Off host abusive messages they should "kill themselves".

He said: "If you're one of the people sending death threats to Sue Perkins, could you please do the world a much bigger favour by killing yourself."

May quickly clarified: "Obviously I don't actually want people to kill themselves but, really, we don't want them as fans."

Perkins denied she was in the running for the role after Clarkson's contract was not renewed by the BBC after his attack on a producer last month.

But she announced she was leaving Twitter on Tuesday as a result of the abuse.

Perkins has dismissed rumours she will front the show

She said: "Guys, post the utterly fabricated story about me and Top Gear, my timeline has been full of blokes wishing me dead. This morning, someone suggested they'd like to see me burn to death.

"All of which goes to say that I am off Twitter for a bit. Love and peace x."

Coral bookmakers had Dermot O'Leary as second favourite to present at 2-1, while actor Philip Glenister, famed for his role as the detective in Life On Mars, has also been rumoured to replace the ousted Clarkson.

Clarkson was the subject of an internal BBC investigation after he attacked Top Gear producer Oisin Tymon, splitting his lip and verbally abusing him in a 30-second assault on 4 March.

The star received widespread public support - including from his friend Prime Minister David Cameron - in the aftermath of the fracas, and one million people signed a petition calling for the BBC to reinstate him.

But BBC director general Tony Hall said "a line has been crossed" and "there cannot be one rule for one and one rule for another".

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